Podcast

Bouwen met Vertrouwen

A podcast by Arent van Wassenaer for the Presolve association, on building without disputes. Conversations with leading figures from the Dutch construction sector: project directors, contractors, clients and academics. Episodes are in Dutch.

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Building with Trust

The English edition.

The English-language sister series to Bouwen met Vertrouwen, with international guests on building without disputes.

#3

Building with Trust 3: Trust in three languages, from Dubrovnik

October 2026 · 32 min

Building with Trust 3: Trust in three languages, from Dubrovnik

Recorded in Dubrovnik during the ICC Croatia conference. Arent van Wassenaer asks Emma Niemistö of Borenius in Helsinki, Leonardo Toledo da Silva of Toledo Marchetti in São Paulo and Marijana Zvonar of Exstructa in Zagreb what the word trust means in Finnish, Portuguese and Croatian, how culture shapes the way problems are raised on projects, and why trust is built inside every project, with the contract as scaffolding.

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#2

Building with Trust 2: Does the contract model determine the dispute? NEC4 and FIDIC, from Copenhagen

October 2026 · 30 min

Building with Trust 2: Does the contract model determine the dispute? NEC4 and FIDIC, from Copenhagen

Recorded in Copenhagen during the IBA Annual Conference. Arent van Wassenaer asks Shona Frame of CMS, a leading NEC practitioner, and Edward Corbett of Howard Kennedy, a leading FIDIC specialist and President of the ICAA, whether the choice of contract model determines the dispute. Both point upstream to bidding, design and price, and to how parties operate early warning, notices, time bars and dispute boards.

Listen Read the insight (in English)

#1

Building with Trust 1: Dispute boards in Latin America, from Lima

September 2026

Building with Trust 1: Dispute boards in Latin America, from Lima

The first episode of Building with Trust, recorded at the DRBF's Latin American conference in Lima. Arent van Wassenaer speaks with Jaime Gray of NPG Abogados, former president of the DRBF's Region 4; Augusto Barros de Figueiredo of Rio de Janeiro, who helped bring dispute boards to the 2016 Olympic Games; and Roberto Hernández García of COMAD in Mexico City. They discuss how dispute boards took hold in Peru, Brazil and Mexico at different speeds, and why the mechanism is often mistaken for a small arbitration.

Listen Read the insight (in English)

All episodes

Every conversation, newest first.

#41

September 2026 · 32 min

Aflevering 41 – Financieren zonder ruzie. Is DBFM nu wel of niet de oplossing? Met Jan van Schoonhoven en Leon Hombergen

Is public-private partnership the answer to a Dutch maintenance backlog of thirty to eighty billion euros? Arent van Wassenaer asks Jan van Schoonhoven (former head of PPP at Rijkswaterstaat, now in Saudi Arabia) and Leon Hombergen (TU Delft and Rijkswaterstaat). They disagree on the price of private money and agree on the rest: a longer horizon, a shadow balance sheet of the country's assets, and a budget system that stops punishing maintenance.

Listen Read the insight (in English)

#40

August 2026 · 30 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #40: Met Matton en Bas van den Berg. Van proefschrift naar bouwput: hoe het familiebedrijf zich overdrachtelijk voortzette

Host Arent van Wassenaer speaks with Matton van den Berg, emeritus professor of construction law, and his son Bas van den Berg, alliance manager at ProRail for the Vught Verdiept alliance. They discuss collaboration models in construction, the contract as a toolkit, and why disputes often arise when parties dig into their own positions instead of the common interest.

#39

June 2026 · 33 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #39: Zo moeder, zo dochter? Met Monika en Andrea Chao

A conversation with Monika Chao-Duivis, emeritus professor of construction law at TU Delft and former director of the Instituut voor Bouwrecht, and her daughter Andrea Chao, partner at Bird & Bird and chair of FIDIC Task Group 17 on collaborative contracting. They talk about construction teams, collaboration, and the contract as a manual for how parties work together rather than a weapon.

#38

April 2026 · 31 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #38: de vernieuwde Zienswijzemethode van Presolve met Malcolm Aalstein en Paul Smeets

Arent van Wassenaer discusses the March 2026 update of Presolve's Zienswijzemethode with Presolve members Malcolm Aalstein and Paul Smeets. They explain how the method combines mediation with the certainty of a binding decision, and walk through the revisions to its structure, planning and confidentiality provisions.

#37

March 2026 · 33 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #37: De gebroeders Dick en Bas van Werven

Two brothers, construction lawyer, arbitrator and author Dick van Werven and BNR radio presenter Bas van Werven, talk about their careers and their shared background in a contractor's family. The conversation focuses on what makes construction collaboration work and how disputes can be avoided.

#36

February 2026 · 33 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen 36: Monique Nillessen en Anke Vos, TenneT 2GW Offshore - ADR

Monique Nillessen and Anke Vos describe TenneT's 2GW programme to connect North Sea offshore wind to the onshore grid, and the new market approach based on long-term partnerships, a portfolio approach and standardisation. They explain the role of the nine Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Boards set up to keep disputes from escalating.

#35

January 2026 · 33 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen 35: Michiel Kool, bruggenbouwer en Arleen Lahnstein - Ami Consultancy

Arleen Lahnstein and Michiel Kool of Ami Consultancy discuss how they help projects and alliances build a culture of collaboration, including the Graaf Reinald alliance strengthening the Waal dike between Gorinchem and Waardenburg. They describe how joint management of risk helps parties resolve differences without conflict.

#34

October 2025 · 30 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen 34: Durk Burgy, directeur/mede-eigenaar van Bouwbedrijf Burgy uit Leiden

Durk Burgy, director and co-owner of the fourth-generation restoration firm Bouwbedrijf Burgy in Leiden, talks about craftsmanship, the company's carpentry workshop and its restoration projects. He explains why he sees building as a shared effort in which attention to the work and to everyone's interests keeps projects dispute-free.

#33

September 2025 · 31 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen 33: Guus Keusters, Directeur Landelijke Projecten Dura Vermeer Infra

Guus Keusters, director of national projects at Dura Vermeer Infra, discusses his 2025 TU Delft doctoral thesis 'Empathy Driving Performance'. He explains how empathy toward stakeholders and empathic leadership within a project can be a success factor, and why it must be balanced with what a project needs to deliver.

#32

June 2025 · 29 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen aflevering 32: Martin Wijnen, directeur-generaal Rijkswaterstaat

Martin Wijnen, director-general of Rijkswaterstaat since January 2024 and a former commander of the Netherlands Army, discusses the agency's task of replacing and renovating tunnels, bridges, viaducts and roads. He argues that construction should become more predictable through new forms of market collaboration such as the portfolio approach and alliance models.

#31

June 2025 · 24 min

BOUWEN MET VERTROUWEN #31: HET EXPERIMENT: IN GESPREK MET CHATGPT OVER GESCHILLENVRIJ BOUWEN

In this experiment Arent van Wassenaer discusses dispute-free building with ChatGPT. They cover the main causes of construction disputes and how artificial intelligence might support risk analysis, contracting, planning and collaboration.

#30

May 2025 · 30 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #30 – Thomas van Belzen, onderzoeksjournalist bij Cobouw

Thomas van Belzen, investigative journalist at Cobouw for twenty years, is interviewed about his career and his reporting on the construction sector. He reflects on the industry after the construction fraud affair and on his podcast and video work.

#29

March 2025 · 32 min

Podcast #29 Bouwen met Vertrouwen: Zakaria El-Khetabi, bestuursvoorzitter bij de woningcorporatie Stedelink te Zoetermeer

Zakaria El-Khetabi, chair of the board of the housing corporation Stedelink in Zoetermeer, talks about his background in public administration and social work. He describes how he pursues durable partnerships with contractors and participation with tenants and other stakeholders in maintenance, sustainability and new construction.

#28

February 2025 · 32 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #28 - Caro van de Venne Architect en Founding Partner van Nudus Architecten, Rotterdam

Architect Caro van de Venne, founding partner of NUDUS architecten in Rotterdam, discusses her career and her firm's approach of doing more with less. She also speaks about her role on the supervisory board of the Fellenoord development company in Eindhoven and the renovation of the Palace of Justice in The Hague.

#27

December 2024 · 32 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #27 - Dineke Mulderij - Unitmanager contract- en projectbeheersing infra bij de provincie Noord-Holland

Dineke Mulderij, unit manager for contract and project control at the province of Noord-Holland, discusses her move from the contractor side to a public client. She describes the province's shift from traditional specifications toward construction teams and two-phase contracts, and why success ultimately depends on the people involved.

#26

October 2024 · 36 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #26 - Willemien Bosch, directeur Koninklijke NLIngenieurs

Willemien Bosch, director of Koninklijke NLingenieurs, discusses the importance of asking the right question and analysing shared interests before seeking a solution. She reflects on the role of the engineer in society and on communication across the supply chain as a condition for dispute-free building.

#25

October 2024 · 31 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #25 – Ingrid Klokke: directeur Inkoop en Contract Management Rijkswaterstaat PPO

Ingrid Klokke, director of purchasing and contract management at Rijkswaterstaat PPO, shares her four core values and her early reflections on the role. She discusses what is needed to prepare the replacement and renovation of motorways and waterways for the decades ahead.

#24

September 2024 · 37 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen # 24 – Roel Scholten, bestuurder COB en Projectdirecteur VTTI Lantis – "Een kathedraal bouwen"

Roel Scholten, project director for the Scheldt tunnel within the Oosterweel connection in Antwerp, describes his path through several large tunnel projects. He explains what it takes to build together with the surrounding community and why the people, not the contract model, determine the success of such collaboration.

#23

August 2024 · 33 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #23: Femke Zevenbergen - Directeur projecten (dijken en rivieren) Boskalis Nederland b.v. en voorzitter Vereniging van Waterbouwers

Femke Zevenbergen, director of projects at Boskalis and chair of the Vereniging van Waterbouwers, discusses her move from company lawyer to tender and project management. She talks about keeping the Netherlands safe from water in the decades ahead and about the value of diverse teams in delivering projects.

#22

July 2024 · 43 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #22: Sietsche Eppinga– Construction Director Pallas Reactor Project

Sietsche Eppinga, construction director of the Pallas reactor project in Petten, discusses her career on the contractor side at Strukton and BAM and her current role. She describes the medical isotope reactor project and what soft leadership and building trust mean for collaboration on site.

#21

August 2023 · 38 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #21 - Francesco Veenstra: Rijksbouwmeester

Francesco Veenstra, Chief Government Architect since September 2021 and chair of the Board of Government Advisors, explains his advisory role on architecture and the built environment. The conversation covers challenges in spatial planning for the decades ahead, including water, mobility and the energy transition.

#20

July 2023 · 35 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #20 - Niek Ridderbos: Alliantiemanager Graaf Reinaldalliantie

Niek Ridderbos, alliance manager of the Graaf Reinald alliance between Waterschap Rivierenland and the Waalensemble consortium, discusses the dike-strengthening programme between Gorinchem and Waardenburg. He reflects on collaboration, transparency and shared goals, and on why alliances are still used relatively little despite their results.

#19

May 2023 · 33 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #19 – Serena Scholte: Spinwaves

Serena Scholte, co-founder of Spinwaves Lab, discusses collaboration for sustainable development and the role of biomimicry and Otto Scharmer's Theory U in her method. She explains how working this way keeps projects away from disputes and what construction can learn from how nature handles conflict.

#18

April 2023 · 39 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #18 – Marten Kingma en René Wagter van BKS Schagen: transparantie is het sleutelwoord

Construction cost advisors Marten Kingma and René Wagter of BKS Schagen explain how full transparency about costs at every project phase can prevent disputes. They discuss listening to each other, seeking joint solutions based on facts, and the value of a shared framework of definitions.

#17

February 2023 · 39 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #17 – Prof. dr. ir. Marcel Hertogh - bruggenbouwer en projectendokter

Professor Marcel Hertogh, researcher at TU Delft and Erasmus University, discusses his work setting up project organisations and repairing collaboration on complex infrastructure projects. He explains how shared ambition, agreed behaviour and common values help such projects continue.

#16

December 2022 · 29 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #16 – Daniëlle Berger

Daniëlle Berger discusses her work placing trainees, many facing a disadvantage, on construction projects, and the value this diversity brings. She explains how the work helps bridge the gap between projects and the wider society.

#15

November 2022 · 35 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #15 - Ruth Langemeijer

Site manager Ruth Langemeijer, working on a housing project in Zaandam, discusses her LinkedIn posts on topics such as prejudice against women in construction. She sets out ingredients for dispute-free building, including people-focused leadership, communication and respect.

#14

October 2022 · 29 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #14 – Evelien Bruggeman, hoogleraar bouwrecht aan de TU Delft en directeur Instituut voor Bouwrecht

Evelien Bruggeman, professor of construction law at TU Delft and director of the Instituut voor Bouwrecht, discusses the interplay of social and technological change and the role of law. She considers how lawyers can help remove barriers that lead to disputes, including through standardisation and better data exchange across the chain.

#13

October 2022 · 35 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #13 - Roy Dayala Contractmanager IJboulevard bij de Gemeente Amsterdam

Roy Dayala, contract manager for the IJboulevard project at the City of Amsterdam, discusses his path from structural engineer to executive roles. He talks about what dispute-free collaboration requires, including vulnerability, listening, and being firm on the issue while gentle on the person.

#12

September 2022 · 35 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #12 – Reina Weening, Voorzitter Raad van Arbitrage in Bouwgeschillen

Reina Weening, chair of the Raad van Arbitrage in Bouwgeschillen, discusses her career from industry and law firms to the judiciary and arbitration. She talks about her plans as chair, the position of women in law and construction, and the causes of disputes.

#11

August 2022 · 24 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #11 – Anja Vijselaar, Bouwvrouw van het Jaar en Wethouder

Anja Vijselaar, named Construction Woman of the Year in 2021 and now an alderman in the municipality of De Ronde Venen, discusses her career from site manager to director. She speaks about diversity, openness and trust as foundations for dispute-free building.

#10

March 2022 · 33 min

Bouwen met Vertrouwen #10 – Maxime Verhagen, voorzitter Koninklijke Bouwend Nederland – Van Contract naar Contact

Maxime Verhagen, chair of Koninklijke Bouwend Nederland since 2013, discusses collaboration based on common interest and the principle of moving from contract to contact. He argues that fair and reasonable risk allocation is an important ingredient for dispute-free building.

#9

December 2021 · 29 min

#9 Malcolm Aalstein, Presolvelid en trekker marktstrategie Bruggen en Kademuren Gemeente Amsterdam

Malcolm Aalstein, a Presolve member who has worked for the City of Amsterdam for over twenty years, discusses lessons from his roles in engineering, contract and purchasing management, and collaboration. He introduces the idea of conflict competence: disputes can be useful, provided parties have the skill to handle them without going to court or arbitration.

#8

September 2021 · 44 min

#8 Harbert van der Wildt - verbindend projectdirecteur

Harbert van der Wildt, an independent project director on large infrastructure projects, discusses his career at HBG, BAM and Ballast Nedam. He sets out three principles for dispute-free building: willingness to help the other party, building success together, and openness, transparency and vulnerability.

#7

July 2021 · 36 min

#7 Dr.Ir. Hans Ruijter, Programmadirecteur Rijkswaterstaat Schiphol Amsterdam Almere en Zuidasdok.

Hans Ruijter, programme director at Rijkswaterstaat for Zuidasdok and Schiphol Amsterdam Almere, discusses his 2019 doctoral study 'Resilient Partnership'. He explains that it is the people and how they listen and collaborate, rather than the contract, that determine whether a project succeeds.

#6

June 2021 · 37 min

#6 Sander Lefevre - lid Raad van bestuur Ballast Nedam NV, verantwoordelijk voor alle infra-activiteiten

Sander Lefevre, board member of Ballast Nedam responsible for infrastructure, discusses the A24 Blankenburg connection and his experience with public-private projects. He describes what dispute-free building requires, including openness to the other party's interest, proactivity, transparency and adaptability.

#5

May 2021 · 23 min

#5 Michèle Blom - Directeur-Generaal Rijkswaterstaat

Michèle Blom, director-general of Rijkswaterstaat since 2017, discusses the importance of diversity in the workplace and the change process she began at the agency. She sums up dispute-free building as working toward the same goal: honest work from the contractor and honest pay in return.

#4

February 2021 · 34 min

#4 Paul Janssen - 4C's: Condities, Communicatie, Chemie en Cultuur

Paul Janssen, project director of the Rotterdamse Baan and its bored tunnel, presents his four conditions for successful projects: conditions, communication, chemistry and culture. He also discusses his work guiding troubled projects back on track and his involvement with the Mag ik dan bij jou foundation.

#3

December 2020 · 56 min

#3 Nico de Vries - 37 jaar BAM

Nico de Vries, who retired in 2014 as chair of the executive board of Koninklijke BAM and now works as an arbitrator, discusses construction disputes and their causes. He describes how projects grew larger and more complex with more unbalanced risk allocation, and closes with three recommendations to move parties out of a combative stance.

#2

November 2020 · 31 min

#2 Paul Smeets - van aannemer naar bouwgeschillenoplosser

Paul Smeets, co-founder of Presolve and former owner of Bouwbedrijf Smeets in Maastricht, explains why he moved from contracting to resolving construction disputes. He and Arent discuss the underlying causes of disputes and the role that emotions play.

#1

October 2020 · 26 min

#1 Chris Jansen - De zienswijzemethode

In the first episode, Presolve members Chris Jansen, professor of private law at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Arent van Wassenaer discuss the new Zienswijzemethode. They explain how this accessible method resolves disputes that arise during a project so that the parties can keep building.